Lowering apparatus



Nov. 22, 1932. G. H, w. DoosE 1,888,912

LOWERING APPARATUS Filed May 13. 1931 ce i a9) 5 WITNEssEs H 1 R j?INVENTOR 24A Q/@7m a R i wmje A A MMM/W a a u ATToRNm:

Patented Nov. 22, 1932 il FICE LOVJERING APPARATUS Application filed May13, 1931.

This invention relates to a lowering apparatus which may be usedadvantageously for lowering life boats, but which may be used for anyother purposes for which it is de- 5 signed.

This invention has for its general object the provision of an apparatusof the indicated character which is simple in construction, easy tooperate, positive and reliable in operation, and of efcient andsubstantial des1 n.

gAs applied to the lowering of life boats, the apparatus does notrequire a last man aboard ship, because one man in the life boat cansafely lower it to the water at an even keel, stopping at will inmid-air when not advisable to further lower the boat and so being in aposition at all times to avert mishaps and to observe the danger oflowering at any particular time, or until such time when danger haspassed.

The invention further resides in the particular combination, operationand functions of the parts hereinafter fully described and which Figure1 is a side view of the apparatus of the present invention employed forlowering a life boat by Way of example;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the apparatus; Figure 3 is aview illustrating a portion of the main and the auxiliary by-passes ofone of the cylinders and the respective valves for the by-passes whichare shown in section.

It is to be understood that an apparatus embodying the features of theinvention constituting a single unit may be used or two such units aswould be the case as applied to a life boat. In the present instance alife boat 10 is selected to illustrate certain purposes and advantage ofthe apparatus and although two similar units as stated would be employedonly one is shown.

Each unit includes uprights or standards 11 secured to a boat deck 12 inspaced relation to each other, and two rods 13 disposed horizontally andparallel to each other are connected with and supported by the standards11. A piston 14 is made fast to each of the illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in.

Serial No. 537,124.

rods 13 at a point substantially midway between the standards 11. Acylinder 15 iS. provided for each of the pistons 14. The two cylinders15 are connected together by end plates 16, which are bolted as at 17 totheend 55 flanges of the cylinders, and serveas heads therefor and alsoserve to connect the Vcylinders together for movement in unison. Therods 13 extend through the plates 16 and stufling boxes 18 carried bythe plates 16 for'60 the rods 13 constitute guides and also prevent theescape of liquid from the cylinders 15. The cylinders 15 and plate 16constitute an assembly slidable on the rod 13. The lowerpiston has aplurality of passages19 extendingT 65 therethrough to retard the How ofliquid from one end of the cylinder to the' other end. The liquid may beand preferably consists of heavy oil. A by-pass 20 is connected with theplates 16 in communication with the. inte- A70 rior of the lowercylinder 15 at the opposite ends. A stop valve 21 is connected inv-the-bypass 20. A by-pass 22 is connected withthe plates 16, incommunication With the interior of the upper cylinder 15 attheopposite-endsua'75 A stop valve 23 is connected inl-the byspass 22. Aby-pass 24 of relatively lsmallcapacity is connected with the 4by-p'ass22-.around the stop valve 23. A regulating'valve25 is connected in theby-pass 24. This valve 25 iis:` 80 automatically closed in any suitablemanner such as by a spring 26 connected with the lever 27 of the valveand the adjacent portion of the by-pass 22. A pull cord. 28 is connectedwith the lever 27 and is passed through 85 an eye 29 on the upper vendof the boat davit 30, and said cord passes downwardly into the boat 10.Thus far there has been described hydraulic means for controlling thelowering of the boat 10. l

Means which operates in conjunction with the hydraulic means hereinabovedescribed for lowering the boat will no'w be described. A screwT 31 hasits opposite ends :journaled as at 32 for rotation in'thestandards 11.A- 95 suitable ratchet wheel 33 is fasten one end of the screw, and apawl {i4-cooperates with the wheel 33 to prevent rotation of the'screw.The opposite end of the screw Slis of angular formation in cross sectiontol-receive a.;100

handle indicated in dot and dash lines to rotate the screw for a purposeto appear. The screw 31 is held aga-inst axial movement. A drum or spool35 is arranged between the standards 11, and its core 36 is in threadingengagement with the screw 31. rlhe plates 16 have holes therein to allowthe screw 31 to extend therethrough. Washers 37 are arranged between theplates 16 and the ends of the drum or spool 35 to take up wear andreduce friction. One end of a cable 38 is secured to the drum or spool35, and this cable constitutes a part of the boat fall supported by thedavit 30 and connected as at 39 with one end of the boat 10.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: vBy pulling on the cord 28of each unit, the valve 25 will be opened thereby allowing the liquid inthe upper cylinder 15 to flow at a slow speed from the left-hand end ofthe upper cylinder to the right-hand end by way of the by-passes 22 and24, it being understood that both stop valves 21 and 23 are closed. Atthe same time liquid in the lower cylinder 15 will low through thepassages 19 from one end of the cylinder to the other end. This allowsthe drum or spool 35 to rotate due to the load imposed thereon by theboat 1() 'with the result that the cable 38 will unwind from the drum orspool thereby allowing the boat v10 to lower. It is to be understoodthat the screw 31 will be prevent-ed from rotating by the ratchetwheel.33 and pawl 34. By further o ening the valve 25 the speed ofdescent o the boat 10 may be accomplished. Each cord 28 will be underthe control of one person standing in the boat 10, who may observeconditions at all times for a favorable vor safe lowering to the water.It is to be understood that as the drum or spool 35 rotates it will alsobe caused to move axially ofthe screw by reason of the threadingengagement of the core 36 with the screw. This axial movement of thedrum or spool is imparted to the right-hand plate 16, and as a.consequence the rotary movement of the drum or spool 35- is retardedaccording to the speed of low of the liquid from one side of each piston14 to its opposite side. When it is desired to rewind the cable 38 onthe drum or spool 35,'the pawl 34 is disengaged from the wheel 33 toallow the drumnto be rotated in any suitable manner. When both valves 21and 23 are opened, the screw 31 may then be rotated by the use of thecrank thereby returning the assembly consisting of the cylinders 15,plates 16, together wth the drum or spool 35 from the positionindica-ted in doty and dash lines to its original position shown in fulllines in Fig. 2 of the drawing. In this connection it is to beunderstood that the liquid may flow freely from the righthand end oteach cylinder to the left-hand end through the by-passes 20 and 22respectvely.

By providing two cylinders 15 and pistons 14 and connecting thecylinders in the manner shown and described, a proper balance is givento each unit of the apparatus. It is to be understood that in certaincases for carrying out certain work, a single piston, cylinder andconnected parts may be utilized within the present invention.

Claims:

3. In an apparatus of the class described, "1

the combination of an element having rotary and axial movement, means toyieldably resist the axial movement of said element to thereby resistits rotary movement, and raising and lowering means operated by therotary movement of said element.

In a lowering apparatus of the class described, thc combination of acable drum having rotary andA axial movement, and

means to yieldably resist the axial movement."

movement of said element to thereby resist@ its rotary movement, andraising and lowering means operated by the rotary movement of saidelement.

5. In a lowering apparatus of the class de scribed, the combination ofan element having rotary and axial movement, means to yieldably resistthe movement of said elelnent, said means including a member which bearson said element; and lowering mea-ns operated by the rotary movement .ofsaid element.

6. In a lowering apparatus of the class described, the combination of acable drum having rotary and axial movement, and means to constantlyrestrain the movement of said f drum, said means including a memberwhich bears on one end of said drum.

7. In a lowering' apparatus of the class described, the combination of afixed screw, a cable drum in threading engagement with said screwwhereby said drum has rotary and axial movement, and means to constantlyretard the movement of said drum, said means including a member whichbears 'on one end,v

of said drum.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a fixedrod, a piston ,fixed on said rod, a iuid cylinder for said piston havingsliding movement on said rod, an element having rotary and axialmovement, `said`` piston having a fluid passage therein, a rigid memberon said cylinder which bears on said element to retard the movement ofsaid element by reason of the movement of the cylinder in relation tothe piston and the retardation of the flow of fluid through saidpassage.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a fixedrod a piston fixed on said rod, a fluid cylinder for said piston havingsliding movement on said rod, an element having rotary and axialmovement, said piston having a fluid passage therein, a rigid member onsaid cylinder which bears on said element to retard the movement of saidele ment by reason of the movement of the cylinder in relation to thepiston and the retardation of the flow of fluid through said passage,and means in communication with the interior of the cylinder at theopposite ends thereof to allow the fluid to flow from one end of thecylinder to the other end and also to stop such flow.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a fixedrod, a piston fixed on said rod, a fluid cylinder for said piston havingsliding movement on said rod, a cable drum having rotary and axialmovement, said piston having a fluid passage therein, a rigid member onsaid cylinder Which bears on said drum to retard the movement of saiddrum by reason of the movement of the cylinder in relation to the pistonand the retardation of the flow of fluid through said passage.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of fixedspaced parallel rods, an assembly slidable in opposite directions onsaid rods, said assembly including side members and cylinders rigidlyconnected with said side members, said cylinders respectivelysurrounding said rods, a cable drum having rotary and axial movement anddisposed between said side members, one of said members acting on thedrum to retard the axial movement of said drum to thereby retard itsrotary movement When movement of said assembly in one direction isretarded, and means Within each of said cylinders consisting of a pistonhaving a passage therein fixed on the corresponding rod, and a quantityof liquid, to retard the movement of said assembly.

GABRIEL H. W. DOOSE.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRELTION.

Patent No. I,888,9I2. November 22, 1932.

GABRIEL H. W. DOOSE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2,line 75, for the claim number "3" read "1"; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with this correction therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of December A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore., (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

